EM technology with its product in Indonesia called Effective Microorganism 4 (EM4), which is internationally known as EM1, has consistently supported organic farming systems and is now in a leading position in marketing liquid organic fertilizers in the country. "EM technology was first developed by Prof. Dr. Teruo Higa from the University of The Ryukyus, Okinawa, Japan, in 1980," said President Director of PT Songgolangit Persada Dr. Ir Gede Ngurah Wididana, MAgr in Denpasar, Bali, Tuesday. Furthermore, EM technology began to develop worldwide since 1989, after the creation of the Kyusei organic agriculture research organization (Asia Pacific Natural Agriculture Network-APNAN) headquartered in Thailand. "Indonesia as a member of APNAN has contributed a lot of ideas and research results on organic agriculture using EM Technology since 1990," said the man who is usually called Pak Oles. The results of research on organic agriculture in Indonesia, which at that time was led by the Bumi Lestari Foundation and the Kyusei Nature Farming Foundation, became the initial capital to register EM4 products as liquid organic fertilizer in Indonesia by PT Songgolangit Persada in 1995. Mr. Oles himself is an alumnus of the Faculty of Agriculture, University of The Ryukyus Okinawa, Japan in 1990 or a former student of Prof. Dr. Teruo Higa. Since completing his education in the State of Sakura, he has been actively teaching and training EM technology to farmers and the community, as well as at the Natural Resources Development Institute Foundation (IPSA) to conduct EM Technology training and education since 1997. To date, 6,000 certified participants have been completed from various regions in Indonesia, including from Malaysia. They are generally employees of government agencies, State-Owned Enterprises (BUMN), and private companies nearing retirement to study organic agriculture and EM technology in the hope of applying them after they retire. In addition, it was also recorded that around 10,000 people held a comparative study at IPSA Bali to get to know EM technology and rare medicinal plants that were successfully collected by Mr. Oles. Subsequently, the IPSA Foundation changed its name to the Gede Ngurah Wididana Foundation for licensing reasons since 2022.
PT Songgolangit Persada diligently develops and markets EM4 products throughout Indonesia with three variants of EM4 products, namely for agriculture, animal husbandry and fisheries. This is also thanks to EM4's long journey in Indonesia since 1990 (32 years), while remaining consistent in the development of organic agricultural products, driven by PT Songgolangit Persada since 1993 (29 years). PT Songgolangit Persada Human Resources has a lot of experience in the fields of education, training, research, production and marketing, as the main capital to run an EM4 business in Indonesia. "The research and development assistance of EM Technology from EMRO (Effective Microorganisms Research Organization), Japan really supports the development of EM4 implementation in Indonesia," he added. The application of EM4 in the plantation sector is carried out on oil palm, rubber, coffee and tea plantations. EM4 is applied in the fields of food crop agriculture (rice and secondary crops), horticulture (fruits, flowers and vegetables), as well as in urban agriculture (urban farming), and landscaping (city parks, hotels and villas). EM4 is also applied to chicken, duck, pig, cow and goat farms, to reduce odor/pollution produced by livestock manure, as well as to process livestock manure into organic fertilizer. EM4 is also applied to fisheries/shrimp ponds, fish, as well as for the maintenance of ornamental fish. In the field of waste treatment, EM4 is applied to process organic waste into organic fertilizer, to treat municipal, hotel and restaurant organic waste, as well as household organic waste. According to him, the use of EM4 which is very broad and easy to implement, really supports the marketing of EM4 in Indonesia. Public awareness of the importance of preserving the environment, human health, plants and animals also strongly supports the implementation of EM4 in Indonesia. The speed and exchange of information on the use, benefits and results of EM4 research and organic farming via the internet also greatly supports the development of EM4 in Indonesia. Currently, EM4 is at the forefront (leader) of the market for liquid organic fertilizer products in Indonesia, being a pioneer in organic farming technology. "The EM4 market opportunity in Indonesia is still wide open, given the enormous potential for agricultural development to increase the production of agricultural, livestock and fishery products, as well as maintain soil, water and air quality with EM technology," said Pak Oles. He added that the development of organic agriculture, especially in food, health, environmental and tourism products is still very wide open. Organic farming and EM Technology are two complementary sides. This is because EM Technology supports the success of organic farming, by fertilizing the soil organically, preventing the development of plant and animal pests, and cleaning up the agricultural environment. "The current of globalization that wants environmental sustainability, health, peace and common prosperity opens up opportunities for the application of EM Technology to be more grounded for all levels of society," said Pak Oles. This can start at the household level (kitchen and household organic waste), municipal waste processing, industrial and agricultural organic waste in a broad sense.
Source: https://www.antaranews.com/berita/3101177/teknologi-em4-dukung-pertanian-organik-di-indonesia
